Catnip:

The Wheel of the Year

AI Generated Images (2021)

Herb Substitutions 🌿

****These are used as Suggestions****

Rosemary can be used in place of other herbs

Rose can be used in place of any other flower

Frankincense or Copal can replace gum resin

Sage in place of any mints

Tobacco in place of any poisonous herbs

Acacia substitute Gum Arabic

Aconitie substitute Tobacco

Arabic substitute gum ,gum mastic or frankincense

Allspice substitute cassia, cinnamon, cloves ,mace or nutmeg

Balm of gilded substitute rose buds or gum mastic

Belladonna substitute Tobacco

Benzoin substitute Gum Arabic or gum mastic

Camphor oil substitute Eucalyptus oil or lavender oil

Carnation substitute rose petals anointed with a few drops of cinnamon oil

Cassia substitute cinnamon

Castor beans substitute for a few drops of castor oil

Cedar substitute sandlewood

Cinquefoil substitute clover or trefoil

Citron substitute equal parts Orange & lemon peels

Clove substitute mace or nutmeg

Clover substitute cinquefoil

Copal substitute frankincense or cedar

Cowbane substitute tobacco

Cypress substitute juniper or pine needles

Deer tongue substitute tonka bean, woodruff or vanilla

Dittany substitute gum mastic

Dragons blood substitute equal parts frankincense and red sandlewood

Eucalyptus oil substitute camphor oil or lavender oil

Euphorbium substitute Tobacco

Frankincense substitute copal or pine resin

Grains of paradise substitute black pepper

Gum bumelia substitute copal, pine resin or dragons blood

Hellebore substitute tobacco or nettle

Hemlock substitute Tobacco

Hemp substitute nutmeg or damiana

Henbone substitute Tobacco

Hyssop substitute lavender

Ivy substitute cinquefoil

Jasmin substitute rose

Juniper substitute pine

Lavender substitute rose

Lemon Grass substitute lemon peel

Lemon verbena substitute Lemon grass or lemon peel

Mace substitute nutmeg

Mandrake substitute Tobacco

Mastic substitute gum, gum Arabic or Frankincense

Mint substitute sage

Mistletoe substitute mint or sage

Mugwort substitute wormwood

Neroli oil substitute orange oil

Nightshade substitute Tobacco

Nutmeg substitute mace or cinnamon

Oakmoss substitute patchouli

Orange substitute tangerine peel

Orange flower substitute orange peel

Patchouli substitute oakmoss

Peppermint substitute spearmint

Pepperwort substitute grain of paradise or black pepper

Pine substitute juniper

Pine resin substitute frankincense or copal

Red Sandlewood substitute sandlewood with a pinch of dragons blood

Rose substitute yarrow

Rose geranium substitute rose

Rue substitute rosemary with a pinch of black pepper

Saffron substitute orange peel

Sandalwood substitute cedar

Sarsaparilla substitute sassafras

Spearmint substitute peppermint

Star Anise substitute bay

Sulfur substitute tobacco, club moss or asafetida

Thyme substitute rosemary

Tobacco substitute bay

Tonka bean substitute deer tongue

Trefoil substitute cinquefoil

Valerian substitute asafetide

Vanilla substitute woodruff or deer tongue

Vetivert substitute calamus

Wolfsbane substitute tobacco

Wood aloe substitute sandalwood sprinkled with ambergris oil

Woodruff substitute deer tongue or vanilla

Wormwood substitute nutmeg

Yarrow substitute rose

Yew substitute Tobacco

Let's Talk Imbolc!: The Earth Stirs

As the first proper Sabbat of the Spring and the (ostensibly, depending on your system) first Cross-Quarter of the year, Imbolc represents the time of the Wheel when the seasons begin to turn from winter to spring, snow and ice beginning to mely, and the first vestiges of life start to pop up from beneath the blanket of winter. (Your results may vary - I live in New England where everything is still metaphorically dead as doorknobs on February 1st!).

Imbolc marks the time when winter begins to seep away, when greenery first begins to poke its head through the stillness of the Dark Half of the Year, and, of course, themes of light abide throughout.

Neatly tucked between Yule (the Winter Solstice) and Ostara (the Spring Equinox), Imbolc is the transitory celebratory day positioned exactly between these two climes. Though "Imbolc" and Sabbats are typically associated with Wiccan tradition, secular & non-Wiccan witches can observe and celebrate these days as mathemetical nature festivals marking the turning of the year.

Imbolc Dates, 2022: Sunset February 1st to February 2nd

Associated Colors (for altars and decorating, etc): White, Cream, Light Blue (Periwinkle), Green & White, Silver

Symbols: Melting snows, evergreens, lights and candles, melting ice, & white flowers

Scents: Vanilla, Benzoin

Herbs: Angelica, Myrrh, yellow, white or blue Flowers, snowdrop, rowan, the first flowers of the year; to burn: basil, bay, benzoin, celandine

Colors for Ritual Wear: White

Magic for Imbolc

As a time of renewal and rebirth, these themes are key to any spellwork or ritualcraft engaged in on Imbolc. Though many might advise you that Sabbats are really days for celebrating and not a lot of heavy-lifting spellcraft ought to be done, I tend to disagree - especially, at least, when it comes to Imbolc and Litha. Here, Imbolc is the perfect time to state new beginnings and begin any cycles of renewal or rebirth you have in mind! The pull of the natural passing of the seasons (again, adjust as applicable here) is a magnificent tide for ebbing or renewal magics.

Other topics or purposes suitable for Imbolc include: Health, omen observation, animal kinship, safety, improving finances, awakening, light, fertility (not just literal - gardening or creative endeavors could fall under here), initiations and self-dedications, turning focus inward, centering power, and attending to the self.

Foods of Imbolc

As a big advocate for lavish feasts on Wheel days, Imbolc is a prime time for preparing seasonally appropriate food! Dishes or courses may include:

Dairy, milk, cheeses, creams and sour cream, peppers, onions shallots, garlic, leeks, chives, olives, raisins, breads, creamy soups, white wine, soy milk, cornbread cake, rowanberry wine, lamb, fondues, creamed spinach

Customs of Imbolc

Observing Imbolc Sabbat rituals (as appropriate to your traditions)

Wearing a crown of lights, or carrying candles/tapers, during invocations & rituals.

Renewing vows of magic, initiation, and dedication to the Craft, one's coven, etc.

Burning of the Yule Greens (for some)

Leaving buttered bread for the Fae who travel with the Lady of the Greenwood on Imbolc Eve (I personally Do Not Eff With the Fae but - for those who do!)

Place three ears of corn over the doorway for/to represent The Triple Goddess and leave til Ostara (for the Wiccans/Those Who Eff With the Triple Goddess in the room)

Cleanse your magic working area with rosemary or vervain

Walk in the snow (as applicable)

Light a candle in every room of the house, or all the lights, even just for a few moments, after sunset on Imbolc.

Take a bath of renewal

Meditate or inquire of your deities - there is a tradition amongst those who call upon a Goddess in the Wiccan fashion to inquire of them, then recieve their answer overnight on Imbolc during which no word must be uttered, which I admit is incredibly appealing (as someone who loves, loves, loves ritual!)

Imbolc is a wonderful time for peacefully looking inward and starting anew - I hope you find what you're looking for, and have a wonderful and lovely cross-quarter day! (Remember: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, flip the Wheel - February 1st/2nd would be Lammas for you!)

Sources for this post include: Ann Moura, Deborah Blake, Scott Cunningham, Patricia Telesco, Titania Hardie, Ellen Dugan

[Part of the Let's Talk... Sabbat Series: Lammas | Litha | ]

Spiritual Protection Types, and Why We Need It So Much

Unless you are new, you have probably endured many witches and practitioners emphasize the importance of mastering protection. It is a lot like carrying a self-defense tool, you are preventing something from happening before it happens to you in your most vulnerable state.

DISCLAIMER: This is based mostly on my personal experiences and own research as a practicing witch. Everyone has their own methods, you do not need to agree with me.

If you would like to support my endeavors, check out my profile! I had to retype this 3 times because I didn't save and would appreciate support

What is Spiritual Protection?

Spiritual protection takes several forms. It can be a crystal in your pocket, a jar, a sigil, a sign from a tarot card, a talisman, a ward, a bind, etc.

Basically, spiritual protection is ANYTHING meant to protect you, your loved ones, your sacred spaces, or living spaces.

First and foremost, we must discuss different categories of protection.

Prevention

Not giving room for the energy to enter to begin with. Some of us know the shock of interacting with a negative energy all too well, and in my experience, any negative energy makes it stronger. This makes an influx of positive energy so much more important and valuable

I see us and spaces all as having a limited capacity for energy, just like we have a limited capacity for anything. If there is too much positive energy, there will be no room for the negative energy to enter, let alone negative energy for them to fuel themselves.

Purification

Getting rid of the bad/boring/used energy that no longer serves us is purification. Some of us will practice purification by smoke cleansing, which is my personal favorite. Others will use baths, or protective oils to purify their energy. Energy that has stuck around too long feels like monotony to me, and when I feel monotony, I always cleanse.

Defense

There are a couple of different ways you are able to defensively protect yourself from negative energy. Warding is my preferred method, so we will discuss that first.

A ward can be a metaphorical wall, or an energy sponge, regardless of how you use it, it keeps everything you don't want out. Wards have to be scripted or programmed beforehand, in my experience. The more detail/work you put into them, the stronger they get. You can make them like Jell-O, or like concrete. They can allow any energy, no energy, or only certain energies to enter. The bounds to wards are endless, the only downside is trying to figure out when to charge them. (I recommend using the sun or moon to charge them, using yourself later on, charging them once a week). A more in depth post on wards is coming later.

Setting boundaries is another way to defend yourself, they allow us control in our relationships and interactions. They are exactly the type of boundaries you are thinking of, physical and mental (or psychic) boundaries. Developing strong boundaries is crucial to most relationships, not allowing toxicity to interfere with the beautiful relationship you have. Physical boundaries may be a salt line or circle, while mental may be shielding or cleansing.

Offense

I don't recommend beginners to start by working with offensive protection, unless absolutely necessary. I do not use offensive protection unless I genuinely feel that I am in harm's way.

This is a type of protection that will hunt the perpetrator down, regardless of whether or not it is a known energy or being. Sometimes simply casting chaos into the world is enough for the energy to leave you alone for a while, but other times, it is to keep the energy at bay. Hexes are considered offensive protection by some (me included).

Deflection

This is simply reflecting the energy sent onto you back onto the source, the most simple "no you don't" in witch history. Most commonly, deflection is done through Return To Sender workings, and when the energy or being is returned it is stuck to them.

Some witches can sense when negative energy is on their way to them, others find out through readings. Mirror Boxes are great for deflecting, along with sigils or witch balls.

Divine or Spiritual Protection

Calling upon protective deities, guardians, familiars, etc. to protect a person or space can be done through regular offerings to them. The offerings signify you still need their assistance, but this can very from being to being. All different beings can be pinned against each other in the name of protection, just ensure that they are stronger than whatever energy is trying to harm you. Many will set up altars or spirit houses as a way to visualize the agreement to work with the beings, making it special to the energy.

Thank you for reading my post until the end, and I hope it helps someone who needs it.

I used my own experiences and this link to learn about all of the different types.

Mental & Emotional Health Protection Spell Jar

D’you ever get those days where enough is ENOUGH and you just have to spell jar the shit out of a protection spell (shuddup that totally makes sense)? Well, that was how I felt his morning.

This here is actually my first spell jar, one to protect my mental and emotional health.

My method and ingredients are mainly based off this protection spell bottle by @greekwitchchild​ with a couple of minor changes.

I don’t have oak leaves to hand, so I used chamomile flowers in their place for protection, peace and happiness.

Instead of writing my sigil on a piece of paper, I wrote it on the bay leaf I used in the jar. Full disclosure - the leaf was brittle and did crumble a bit as I inserted it. So, on the fly, I added though the sigil be broken, my intent remains whole into my “spell” (saying out loud the purpose of each ingredient as I added it to the jar).

The partially burned candle and jasmine incense stick were left from a circle casting I did while meditating a couple of days of ago. So I used them again to cast my circle and purify my space while I worked.

I shall be carrying this little beauty with me as I visit my boyfriend for the next 7 days or so. Negativity can fuck right off <3

I haven’t sent you an ask in ages, so... Do you know any herbal remedy recipes with catnip, spearmint, rosemary, or lavender in them? Not tea, other stuff

Biiiitch, you know I do! Ok some of these (most of these) aren’t recipes really and some are spells but you get the basic idea lol and maybe might get an idea? You get everything thrown at you. ;)

Catnip:

A Little Spell to Bless a Cat

Cat Cuddle Comfort Spell

A Shiny Glamour

Drawing out Latent Talent Charm Bag

Catnip & Lavender:

Get Up & Go New Moon Ritual

Daytime Rest Satchel

Witch’s Salve

Attract a Friend

Catnip, Rosemary & Lavender:

Happy Home Jar Spell

Jar Spell to Attract Love

Sweet Scent

Bath of Renewal

Spearmint:

Spell for Confidence and Beauty

Money Jar

I don’t have a whole lot for spearmint because I am mildly allergic.

Spearmint & Lavender:

Divination Jar

Calming & Anxiety Relieving Simmer Pot Spell

Anti Stress Incense

Rosemary:

Ok you aren’t getting everything for rosemary & lavender because I would be here all fucking day.

Earth Milk Bath

Floor Wash

Curse Removing Wash

Purification Bath

Banishing bath Spell

Spiced Rosemary Sea Salt Brownies

Cleansing Spray

Home Wash

Rosemary Sugar Scrub

Rosemary & Lavender:

Bath Spell for Peace & Clarity

Sleep Sachet

Lavender-Rosemary-Lemon Shortbread (pls send some if you make them kthx)

Good Night’s Sleep Oil & Bag

Third Eye Anointing Oil

I am Majestic Bath Ritual

Lavender:

Safe Travels Powder

Love Drawing Soak

Lavender Fairy Wine (non alcoholic)

Self Love Spray

Candles

Faery Bath

Faery Queen Sugar

Ice Witch Milk Bath

Lavender Sugar Scrub

Honey Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream

Stress Fix Bath

Lavender & Honey Feel Good Potion

Peaceful Night Potion

Fruit & Herb Infused Water

Love Everlasting Oil

Beauty Bath

Lavender Wine

Cheers! Have fun, stay safe, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which I would do pretty much anything so…..

Love you!

Imbolc Spread

Here is a simple four card spread that you can do to welcome the changing of seasons!

Imbolc marks the halfway point between winter and summer, and is the perfect time to prepare for the coming spring. Read more about Imbolc here.

Past: What can you learn from the past season? Winter can be rough for some people, maybe you were put through the wringer this past season too. What is something you can glean from this experience so that you can learn from this?

Present: What energy do you need to bring into this next season? It’s important to learn from the past and plan for the future, but make sure you are able to stay present and grounded even as the weather is bleak. So, what energy should you bring with you into this changing of seasons that can help you to learn, prepare, and pursue what you need to?

Prepare: Anything you would need to prepare for this coming season? This is the time of the year that farmers and gardeners start to prep their lands and plant their seeds for the spring; what is something you can prepare for that you will need to grow or nurture in the springtime?

Pursue: What is something you need to pursue during this time? This could be a goal that you set earlier this year but you have yet to follow through on, is this something you could be pursuing now, during this halfway between winter and spring?

I haven't done this exact spread yet, I plan to do it the day of Imbolc. I'll share my experience with it if I feel like it's ok to share :)

Let me know if you try out this spread, I would love to know how you feel about it!!!

🍎 small batch apple butter recipe 🍎

2 lbs of your apple of choice (about 5/6 medium apples; i used gala and they were perfectly soft for this and not too sweet!) 1/3 c. of water juice of one medium lemon (abt 2 tbsp) ½ c. granulated white sugar

2 tbsp (un)salted butter (i dont think salted vs unsalted matters much but i like my sweets a lil less sweet, so i used salted!) 3 cinnamon sticks (or ¼ tsp of ground cinnamon) 1/8 tsp of cardamom (optional; can sub for ground clove at ¼ tsp) 1/3 c. packed brown sugar ¼ c. maple syrup (optional!) a pinch of salt (1/8-¼ tsp) to taste

Keep reading

❄️ Bath Spell ❄️

For purity and cleansing.

This was very impromptu but I tried it out and I like it!

Ingredients:

Snow Water

Vinegar

Witch Hazel

Egg Shell

Ice Cube

Bay leaf

Black Salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect snow water! I left a cup outside while it was snowing for about ten minutes just to let it collect at the bottom.

Bring the cup inside and add a little vinegar. Snow water is great for purification and the vinegar adds a cleansing value to it.

Add Witch Hazel to your mixture. Witch Hazel is great for your skin IF it is alcohol-free. It has many purification values.

For the egg shells, I saved some over from when I had breakfast. I boil mine but how you clean yours is up to you. I actually think Less is More when it comes to egg shells because they’re hard to clean up sometimes.

While you fill up your bath, I would add the ice cube. The act of melting ice represents cleansing and purification.

Add your mixture in a circular motion.

Add the black salt in a circular motion.

Add the egg shells.

Add your bay leave(s). I like to bless my Bay Leaves with a kiss before adding them to anything.

Extras:

I light white candles and use clear quarts and smokey quartz to line the bath. I also use aromatherapy but it didn’t correspond to the meaning so I didn’t add it in the ingredients list.

I also lit a pink candle for Venus and gave her a seashell offering so she can enjoy the bath as well.

A Witch’s Ingredients: Sand

Sand is an abundant resource that can be found across the world including along the coasts, through deserts and even in many people’s yards and gardens. Sand is rather easy to obtain and natural making it ideal for witchcraft. Though some types of sand may be harder to obtain, and more costly, than others, let this post be a guide on how to utilize it for its magical properties.

Types of Sand & Their Correspondences

Beach/Coastal Sand: calming, grounding, cleansing, connecting to the sea, self-love, protection and warding, motivation, memory, spiritual clarity, purification of the heart, easing pain, physical and spiritual strength, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Ocean Sand (from the ocean floor/deep sea): primordial energy, banishing negative emotions and energy, grounding, mental clarity, psychic clarity and strengthening, divination, guidance, ancient wisdom and power, connections to the sea and primordial waters, birth, creation, can represent both the elements of earth and water

Desert Sand: curses and removing energy from others, weakening, draining, banishing, grounding, mental clarity, physical health, enduring hardships, “drying up” love and past emotions, healing heartbreak, burying the past, often related to burial ceremonies

Volcanic Sand: destruction, intense energy, strength, death, rebirth, banishing, secrets or hidden messages, warding, baneful magic, offensive magic, often represents both earth and fire at once

River Sand/Silt: fertility, procreation, movement, flowing energy, travels, change

Lake/Pond Sand: the present, calmness, serenity, inner focus, self-reflection and meditation

Swamp/Wetland Sand: mystery, secret keeping, silencing lies and rumors, binding, curses related to becoming lost or emotional heaviness, often represents both water and earth at once, often related to animal magic specifically those that live in swamp land

Unearthed/Buried Sand: grounding, hidden power, addressing past issues and mistakes, overcoming controversy, self-discovery, introspection, emotional healing, moving on from past scars

Biogenic Sand/Bone Sand/Shell Sand: healing, moving on emotionally, remembrance but letting go of the pain and loss, honoring those lost (often at or to the sea), close connections to necromancy

Black Sand: protection, warding, banishing, relates to necromancy and spirit work

Pink Sand: love, beauty, youth, harmony, adjusting to change, remembering the past and lost loved ones, rebirth, emotional and mental healing, forgiveness of self and others

Red Sand: strength, courage, valor, relates to fire rather than earth

Yellow Sand: divination, focus, improving memory and skills, mental health, grounding and centering, represents both earth and air elements sometimes both at once

White Sand: purity, cleansing, protection, wisdom, preparing for change, physical and emotional balance, harmonizes all aspects of oneself

Combinations of Sand and Other Ingredients

Sand and Soil: grounding, balance, cleansing, protection of loved ones and family

Sand and Salt: change, growing power, dreams, purification, warding, protection, longevity

Sand and Ash: remembrance, the past, divination

Sand and Clay: change, mental fortitude

Sand and Kelp/Seaweed: beauty, youth, birth, fertility, the ocean

The History

Not much history on the use of sand in magic from what I can find that is a reliable source, but I was able to find some bits about its use.

Sand has been used in connections to rituals for the dead and in burial practices in many different cultures to a varying degree. In some sand was used for burying the deceased such as very early Ancient Egypt for its mummification properties before better mummification methods were invented and utilized. Placing sand into graves or coffins of the deceased somethings as a means to connect them to their homelands if that person was traveling into foreign lands or countries. Some stories speak about mixing the ashes of the dead with sand to be kept in the home. Other stories tell of people mixes ashes from fires or the hearth with sand and casting it out into the sea for lost sailors who could not be brought home. 

Sand was also used historical in some types of spell jars and vessels. In some places sand was put into jars and bottles and given to sailors to keep them connected to home even when sailing. Others said carrying sand could protect one from being lost at sea or from disaster, likely where the history of sand being used for protection properties came from. It has also been used in witch’s bottles and for burying spells for varying purposes. Some cultures would bury offerings to deities into the sand of beaches or deserts.

Modern Use

Sand is still a common ingredient for many sea witches and worshipers of ocean related deities to utilize in their craft and in their altars. Deities commonly related to sand are Poseidon, Aphrodite, Psamathe, Thalassa, Aegir, Neptune and Veles. Sand is also often used in altars to represent either earth or water when representing the cardinal directions or the 4 elements. Some will use sand to represent both in cases of smaller altars.

Modernly, sand is often used in spell jars and bottles when used in spellwork or as a vessel to charge, cleanse and bury objects or tools such as crystals, poppets, amulets and trinkets. Sea witches or witches with accesses to large amount of sand will often use it for grounding and circle casting. Some will use it for runes and sigils as well.

Storing Sand

For those wishing to store and use collected sand ensure that there is nothing undesirable in it - garbage, sharp bits of glass, decomposing fish or animals, insects etc. Shift it thoroughly to ensure anything that could be potentially dangerous is removed and if needed properly disposed of. Once the sand has been shifted ensure it is dry before you seal it into anything.

Wet sand can house bacteria and mold - which can also smell quite foul when the container is opened again. You can use the sun to dry it or indoor heaters at a safe distance. Spread it out thin and flat to help ensure it is thoroughly dried if it is damp or wet.

Once dried the best way to store sand is inside of glass or ceramic vessels. Jars and bottles are the most ideal. Ensure that they are sealed tightly to ensure no spillage or condensation can get inside.

**this post was personally researched, compiled and directly from my personal grimoire. Please do not repost**

Like my blog and posts? Feel free to support continued content on this blog by donating to my Ko-Fi page! Or ask me for my paypal!